“BUT the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” — Daniel 12: 3
The Book of Daniel and Mark’s Gospel Reading this Sunday sound scary for many of us because they speak about “a time unsurpassed in distress” in which “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Hearing these words make us think of the end of the world.
But should we be scared when this time comes? Or should we rejoice because finally all evils of the world will end and God will bring justice to those who had sowed them? Should we not rejoice because those of us who are faithful to God will “shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament and will “be like stars forever”?
Absolutely, the apocalyptic literatures of the bible were written not to bring fear in us but to tell us of the great promise that will come to us and to the world. There will be no more tears, suffering, distress, and discomfort. There will be no more hatred, violence, famine and death. All people will be united solely for one purpose: to sing praise and honor to God with the angels and the saints in heaven.
That will be a great moment, isn’t it? We’ll finally experience eternal bliss that no material things, pleasure or power in this world would ever give. Those who suffered through pains of poverty and oppression in this world and persevered in their faith in God will experience this reward. And those who had inflicted unjust pain and suffering in people and the world without repentance will be punished.
Meanwhile, we cannot wait to experience peace and justice in our lives until this great promise comes. As creatures of God, it is our calling to bring life and progress to this world and the universe for the welfare and dignity of every human being.
We do not know when the end of the world will come, and we cannot just sit and wait for that time to come. In his wisdom, God has instilled in our minds and hearts a desire for goodness, love and care for people and the world. We must fulfill these desires everyday of lives here on earth because they reflect our divine call and image to subdue this earth with values of God’s Kingdom—a kingdom of justice, love and peace where everyone is regarded as a child of God.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.